Police: Driver on Drugs When He Killed Michigan Bicyclists
Source: Associated Press
A man accused of plowing his pickup truck into a group of Michigan bicyclists, killing five, was under the influence of drugs, a prosecutor said Wednesday as he added new charges.
Charles Pickett Jr. was already facing second-degree murder charges in the June 7 crash. The additional charges, driving while intoxicated causing death, are significant because they give a glimpse of what may have led to the tragedy on a two-lane rural road in Kalamazoo County.
Pickett, 50, heard the charges during what was supposed to be a routine hearing about schedules in the case. A not-guilty plea was entered.
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Outside court, county prosecutor Jeff Getting declined to describe the drugs that were discovered during toxicology tests by state police, only that they were "controlled substances."
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-meet-lawyers-killing-michigan-bicyclists-40037344
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KALAMAZOO, Mich. Jun 22, 2016, 1:14 PM ET
blackspade
(10,056 posts)Backwoodsrider
(764 posts)We could use some more truth in whole MJ issue and courts while not perfect are under peer review, unlike the DEA, Cops on and on.
Early tell is that August 1 MJ is being reclassified to a 'level II drug'. Its the same category as OxyContin and cocaine but this shuffle in levels will allow colleges and other institutions to conduct research on MJ.
Also the change in level likely going to make medical MJ legal in all 50 states.
Having said that I am sorry for the bicyclists that got their life ended by anothers possible illegal action of driving under the influence, whatever the drug was.
metalbot
(1,058 posts)Most state laws simply say "possession of marijuana is illegal", so I don't see why the move to a Level II would have an immediate impact. It would make it easier for states to legalize, but "having a prescription for marijuana" isn't going to become a legal defense unless a state passes a law that makes it a legal defense, or removes direct references to marijuana (and thus just treat it like any other medicine).
Backwoodsrider
(764 posts)Going to be an exciting rest of year as questions like yours hopefully get answered.
Some states still have possession as the enforceable crime but half the states(25) already legalized Medical MJ.
I live in a state where rec use of MJ became legal and have read reports showing; teen MJ use has declined after initial slight increase, deaths from Opiate related OD's down 25% since MJ legalization and $20 million in collected taxes and counting so yes I think most states are going to want a piece of the pot pie.
Time will tell
Response to Eugene (Original post)
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maxsolomon
(32,975 posts)why so coy?
billhicks76
(5,082 posts)djg21
(1,803 posts)On various bicycle-related forums I frequent. But it's hearsay at this point.
Taitertots
(7,745 posts)I suspect they were psychiatric medicine due to the psychiatric screening being required by the court.
Backwoodsrider
(764 posts)Maybe pot but that's hard to prove without additional evidence.
They must have actual evidence of DUII so yes there might be more but just not telling press yet.